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Many Houston drivers have probably noticed a bunch of warning lights on their dash when they start their engine. They flash on to test the circuits and then go off if everything's OK. One of the warning lights looks like a car battery. Its job is to tell you if your vehicle battery's not charging properly. Houston motorists probably know that their battery stores electricity – enough to start the engine and get moving. But that's about it – you can only get a few miles or kilometers on battery power alone. You need an alternator to generate enough electricity to run your vehicle engine and power your electrical accessories like the stereo, power seats, heater fan, on-board computers and so on. On top of that, the alternator needs to recharge your battery. So when your vehicle alternator isn't working, there isn't enough electricity ... read more

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It’s heart health month! Just as we take care of our own hearts, we should also consider taking care of our vehicles heart. Do you know what part of a vehicle is the heart? If you said the engine, then you are right! We must take care of not just our health but our vehicles. Many forget that an annual tune-up for their engine is important. It is just as important as our own check-up. By taking a few minutes out of your day for a basic engine tune-up, you can save a vehicle from dying. Considering how no two people are alike, we must remember this about vehicles as well. Basic engine tune-ups vary depending on the type of vehicle. Most basic tune-ups include a check of the following: Battery / charging voltage Belts and hose Scan for fault codes Idle speed Gaskets and seals are reviewed for dirt, grime or leaks Spark plugs Fuel Pump PCV Valve Now, this is merely the basics, but most mechanical shops will complete a review of all filters and much mo ... read more

Diesel Winter Tips Winter is a blissful time for many people but not everything enjoys the cold. Have you experienced issues with your vehicle not starting? Or stopping after it starts during the cold? Was it specifically on days where the temperature was below 32 degrees? When you are a diesel lover then you know the frustrations of chilly weather. For others, this comes as a surprise when they experience their first “Diesel vs. the Cold”. Why does this happen? Unlike gasoline which does not solidify and is more flammable, diesel will solidify during chilly weather. Since diesel contains paraffin, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum and commonly used in candles or cosmetics, it can solidify into a waxy substance(“Paraffin,”2018). When diesel solidifies it is commonly called, “gelling”. Don’t worry about the frustration but focus on a few solutions. Here are three tips for preventing or minimizing diese ... read more

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Question: My friend had a broken timing belt and it was very expensive to repair his engine. What can I do to avoid a broken timing belt?Kacal's Auto & Truck Service Answer: Well, a broken timing belt can lead to one of the most expensive engine repairs Houston drivers will ever face. The good news is that replacing your timing belt on its recommended schedule can help avoid those problems. Here's a brief overview of what the timing belt does: Air is drawn into the cylinder of the engine through the intake valves. After the air and fuel mixture is burned, it's pushed out through the exhaust valves. The timing belt, which is driven by the engine, turns the camshafts which control when the intake and exhaust valves open and close. It is important that the opening and closing of the valves take place at exactly the right time for the engine to run properly. Beyond that, on some vehicle engines, the valv ... read more

In very simple terms, a fuel injector is a valve that squirts fuel into your vehicle engine. Your engine control computer tells the fuel injector how much fuel to deliver as well as the precise time it should be delivered. Of course this happens thousands of times a minute. High temperatures under your hood and variations in Bellaire gas quality cause fuel injectors to be fouled with wax, dirt, water, additives and carbon. Injectors can become partially clogged, preventing them from delivering the proper amount of fuel at the correct pressure. When your vehicle's injectors are dirty, the fuel doesn't burn as efficiently, resulting in poor fuel economy and loss of power. So it's important to keep your fuel injectors clean. We can perform a full fuel system servic ... read more

Vehicle: 2005 Lexus GX470 Base 4.7L, V8, MFI, DOHC, Eng Desg 2UZFE Mileage: 116,853 Customer Concern: The left rear suspension is lower than the rest of the vehicle and there is a code 51. Replaced the left rear air suspension bag but it will not fill up. Tests: 1. Code 51 indicates that the air suspension pump ran for more than 100 seconds but the vehicle height did not change. Determine if the pump is working properly and that it is able to build pressure. 2. Test the rear height control valve and determine if it has battery voltage applied to the Purple/White wire and good ground on the White/Black wire. If so, the control unit is trying to open the valve and direct air to the left rear air suspension bag. If the height control valve has power and ground for the left rear circuit and there is no air coming out to the left rear air suspension bag, the rear ... read more

Vehicle:2010 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 2.4L, L4, MFI, DOHC, VIN B, Eng Version Theta II Mileage:18,244 Customer Concern:The check engine light is on with an Intake Manifold Runner Performance (Bank1) code P200A. Tests: 1. Check the resistance of the Variable Charge Motion Actuator (VCMA) motor from terminal 4 to terminal 5. The specification is 3.4 to 4.4Ω at 68 degrees fahrenheit. 2. With the key on, actuate the VCMA motor with a compatible scan tool and confirm the change of VCMA feedback sensor signal and the sound of operation. The specification is about 0.84 volts open and about 4.16 volts closed. 3. If your scan tool will not operate the VCMA motor, backprobe and monitor the VCMA position sensor signal at terminal 2 Black/Orange wire with the key on and apply battery voltage to the motor at terminal 5 Orange wire. Pulse a ground at terminal 4 Pink wire and the position sensor signal voltage should chan ... read more

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Vehicle:2005 Lincoln Town Car Executive 4.6L, V8, MFI, SOHC, VIN W, GAS Mileage:117,000 Customer Concern:The Right Front (RF) cornering lamp is on all the time whether the ignition is on or not, unless the parking lights are turned on. Tests: 1. Disconnect the multifunction switch and look for the light to stay on or turn off. 2. If the light goes out with disconnection of the multifunction switch, it would support a shorted multifunction switch. 3. If the light is still on with the multifunction switch disconnected, disconnect the RF cornering light bulb and check for the presence of voltage to the bulb on the Brown/White (BR/WH) wire verifying it is shorted to a hot-at-all-times circuit of the harness running between the RF bulb and the multifunction switch connection. Inspect the harness and address the short, or cut the circuit as the RF cornering light bulb and the multifunction switch and run a rep ... read more

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Vehicle: 2003 Chevrolet Express 1500 Base 5.3L, V8, MFI, OHV, VIN T, GAS Mileage: 128,179 Customer Concern: No start, no fuel pressure. Replaced the fuel pump and relay, still no fuel pressure. Tests: 1. Remove the fuel pump relay and check for power at one terminal from fuse 12 (20 amp). 2. One terminal should get 12 volt power when the key is turned on for about 2 seconds and also when the engine is cranking. This is from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) pin 9 of the Green connector, a Dark Green/White wire. 3. One terminal should be a good ground to G102 and the other terminal should have continuity to the pump. Putting 12 volts on the pump terminal should show 12 volts at the pump with the pump plugged in. If the voltage is low at the pump there is a wire problem between the relay and pump, inspect the connections under the under hood fuse block. 4. Verify the pump ground is good and the ... read more